Friday, December 31, 2010

I made this wreath for my mom for Christmas. I thought it would be nice for her door for the winter months. Since I had to mail it to her, I was kind of afraid to put anything sticking off of it...like ornamental branches or the like. Anyhoo, it turned out pretty, and simple; two things I love. :) To see how I made it, you can check out my first wreath post here.

A couple of days before Christmas, Andre and I took the boys downtown to check out the window displays. Cash and Luc loved it, and did NOT want to stop...The fact that there are business' downtown that take the time to decorate their windows (that cover whole city blocks!) is reason #208 out of my #1000 reasons why I love living in Chattanooga.Hope you all are enjoying your holiday where ever you may be!

Monday, December 27, 2010

Seven years ago today, I married S. Andre Crosby. What can I even say? I had never loved anyone more, and I still feel that today. It's been the craziest 7 years of our lives, with loads of ups and downs...but God has blessed us with so many wonderful things. We have a spectacular family, fantastic friends, and our boys are an amazing addition to our lives. God has continued to change/mold us into better companions for each other. I love the Croz, and all that he has come to be in my life.This is an engagement pic, and the above is, obviously, a wedding pic. Both are pictures of pictures...not so great quality.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Here's a sweet, light, and easy (always helps!) little after dinner treat. I made these last night for Cash and Luc since we had a lovely white Christmas; I thought a snowflake was fitting. They were yummy! Oh, and pretty! I found this in the Family Fun magazine. (Love it!!)What you need

6 flour tortillas

Canola or vegetable oil for baking or butter

Confectioners' sugar

Edible glitter or colored sugar crystals (optional)

How to make it

Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Warm the tortillas (about 15 seconds) in the microwave.

Individually fold the tortillas in half once and then in half again, so that you end up with a shape that resembles a wedge of pie (it will be thick). Using clean scissors, cut triangle, circles, or squares out of the edges, as if you were making paper snowflakes. Unfold the tortillas.

Lightly brush the tops of the snowflakes with canola/ vegetable oil or butter and place them on a cookie sheet slightly apart.

Bake them until lightly browned and crisp (about 4 minutes). Sift confectioners' sugar on the snowflakes while warm. For an extra sparkly effect, you can sprinkle on a bit of edible glitter or color sugar crystals. Makes 6.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Nothing says "HOLIDAY" like red velvet...am I right, or am I right? :)

We had our Christmas party at church last week, and one of the delicious treats I took to share were these cupcakes.

I make this next statement with seriousness eeking out of my fingertips; these are my favorite cupcakes in the entire world. My friend, Casey, has a sister who makes fan-stinking-tastic red velvet cupcakes, and for years now I thought hers took the cake (literally). Sorry to say, Casey, but your sis is going to have to step up her game to beat off these little devils. (I mean that in the nicest way, Case. You know I love ya.)

Ladies. Gentlemen. Take this recipe. Bake. Share with the world. World will be happier. Love will spread. Life will be good.What You Need

1 pkg. red velvet cake mix

1 pkg. JELL-O Chocolate Instant Pudding

1 pkg. Cream Cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 pkg. (16 oz.) powdered sugar (about 4 cups)** The recipe calls for 4 cups, but I actually only used 3 cups. It was plenty sweet!!**

1 cup thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping

Make it 1. Preparecake batter and bake as directed on package for 24 cupcakes, blending dry pudding mix into batter before spooning into prepared muffin cups. Cool. 2.Beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Gradually beat in sugar. Whisk in COOL WHIP. Spoon 1-1/2 cups into small freezer-weight resealable plastic bag; seal bag. Cut small corner off bottom of bag. Insert tip of bag into top of each cupcake to pipe about 1 Tbsp. frosting into center of cupcake.3.Frost cupcakes with remaining frosting. . Keep refrigerated.I garnished my cupcakes with these festive and edible snow flakes that Erin had put in my birthday box of presents. You could also shave little curls of white chocolate, use sprinkles, or create (or purchase) cupcake toppers. Of course, the cupcake is mind blowing enough on it's own...it doesn't really need anything else. :)

warning:These cupcakes are like crack. Eat one and you are addicted. Andre ate five in one day. If you know Andre, you know that him eating FIVE in one day would be the equivalent of me going without crafting for a year. If I hadn't seen it, I wouldn't have believed it.

Ok, so maybe a bit silly, but it's late....and I do love free printables! If you are still struggling to get your packages wrapped up with craftiness, try making life a wee bit easier by using these little beauties....

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

For the past couple of months (thanks, Erin) I have been kind of obsessed with incorporating clothespins into crafts. I decided I must use them in my Christmas wrapping. I can't remember if Erin (A Bird and A Bean) put this idea in my head, or if it was just me....we tend to see to share a brain at times... Anyhoo- I saw this little idea somewhere out there in blog land, can't remember where, and thought it was just the kind of **SPARKLE** I needed for my packages.1. Start with some regular ole clothespins. I bought mine at the Dollar Tree. 12 for a buck or something. (love it!)2.I used Mod Podge, but I would have used a gloss coat spray if I already had some. There was no run to the store for me!3.I bought some really pretty glitter (Not Martha's, but some other brand I can't remember...don't you all just love my short term memory?) Sprinkle with glitter, and tap a little to release excess. Allow glue to dry.These would be great for packages year round, on party favors, or attach magnets on the back to use them on the fridge!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

I wanted to make a little something for Cash's Sunday school class, AND I was dying to use the new candy mold Andre bought as one of my birthday presents! Together it came....owls for the kids. The owls were oh so cute, and again, I just melted some yummy chocolate and poured. Presto! Done.I tried to incorporate owls into Christmas some way, so on the note I wrote, "Guess 'hoo hoo' is coming to town? Merry Christmas!" Kind of lame and corny, but they're kids...and they probably only cared that it was chocolate. Anyway, wrapped them hoot hoots up in cellophane, tied with ribbon, and added the card...they were distributed (and received!) with joy.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Another fun, easy, and ohhh so tasty gift idea. These are the perfect union between personable gift and delightful treat. :)

Here's what you need:

*chocolate to melt (I splurged and went for the Ghirardeli)*chopped nuts, dired fruits, broken up bits of candy or candy cane (I just went with pecans because I had them on hand.)*cellophane bags*tag*ribbon

How to do it:

1. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or by pulsing with heat in the microwave. Stir in the dried fruit, nuts or candy.

2. Arrange the cookie cutters on the parchment or freezer paper, making sure the sit absolutely flat against the paper so that no chocolate leaks under the edges.

3. Holding the cooking cutter in place with one hand, carefully pour the melted chocolate mixture into the center of the cookie cutter until it reaches the top rim of the cutter.

4. Continue to fill the cookie cutters until you have used up all the chocolate. Allow the candy to harden completely before peeling up from the paper.

5. Slip each filled cookie cutter into a small clear gift bag and tie at the top with a ribbon and tag. Store in a cool place.

Friday, December 17, 2010

My fabulous fifth grade teammate (one of them...I have THREE!) gave Cash and Luc a gingerbread house kit. Cash and I went at it yesterday, and totally tackled this project. Cash did a great job, too. I had to put all the frosting on, but he attached all the candy to the house himself. He was really psyched about the whole thing, and is very proud of the outcome. I had never made one, myself, so I really enjoyed it, too!Thanks "TeeCee" for a great gift. We love you!! (Isn't she just the prettiest?)Here is Cash with the house after "phase 1" of building.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Here's another idea that is easy on the purse strings....(does anyone even say that anymore?) It's for all the book lovers out there who can appreciate a fun bookmark. :)I bought these gigantic paperclips at the Dollar Tree for $1.00, and there are 4 in a package. (Score!) I had some left over flowers from an earlier adventure, so I just hot glued a flower to a paperclip. Then I attached a small circle of felt onto the back. And...done... pretty sweet, huh?I bet you all are wondering who's going to get these???

I'm just a girl who loves Jesus and cool stuff. I also happen to be a mother of two fantastic boys,and a wife to one amazing husband. I stay crazy busy being a full time teacher, a Jewel Kade stylist, and obsessed with creating new things. My family has made our world here in Chattanooga, and are trying to live out our dreams. Mine involve cooking/baking, all things crafty, arty, planty, and fashiony.This blog is a my way of holding myself accountable creatively. I'll do my best.